Minn. property tax thrust back into political fray

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Even before Minnesota property tax levies are locked in, the effort to assign political meaning to the bills awaiting homeowners and others is in full swing.

Minnesota Democrats, who predicted a drop in property taxes, are left to explain why that didn’t happen in most places. Legislative Republicans are holding it up as a broken promise that they’ll remind voters of in the next election.

Despite tens of millions of dollars in extra help from the state, preliminary levy data show only about 11 percent of cities plan to cut tax levies.

Minnesota Public Radio News reported Tuesday (http://bit.ly/IiuDvU ) on Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans’ push to highlight cities that held the line.

Local officials will set their final levies by Dec. 27. Statewide data is due in February.